This course focuses on what has been regarded as one of the most artistically exciting periods of African American history. We'll examine the ideological, aesthetic, and political underpinnings of the Harlem Renaissance as we read works by many of the major figures associated with the era.  Because many of the main participants had personal, professional, and political relationships with each other, I have structured the class around particular authors and their debates and conversations.  We'll ask what the flowering of black creativity of this period meant and continues to mean to American culture and racial politics.

W.E.B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk (Norton Critical Edition)

Nathaniel Huggins, Voices from the Harlem Renaissance

William Andrews, Classic Fiction from the Harlem Renaissance

Wallace Thurman, ed. Fire!

Steven Watson, The Harlem Renaissance: Hub of African American Culture 1920-1930

Packet to be purchased from English Department Secretary

Your final grade will be based upon two papers (about 6-9 pages, 20% each, an oral presentation on one figure of the Harlem Renaissance  (30%), and performance on a final exam (20%). Class participation, including your e-journals, counts for 10% of your final grade. If you receive a no-credit in two or more components of the class, including class participation, you will not pass the class.  If you have 1 or more unexcused absences, you will not pass the class, regardless of which grade track you are using. I do not accept late papers. This is a level 300 course, and EN250: Critical Practices or EN201: Introduction to Poetry is a prerequisite for this class. This course is not recommended for first-year students, though first-year students are welcome if they feel that they can commit themselves to the expectations and the workload.

Honor Code

I expect all students to uphold the Colorado College Honor Code, and to testify to that in writing on all of their written work.

My office hours are Wednesday, 2:00-4:00. My e-mail address is cgarcia@coloradocollege.edu (note that there is no underscore). My office is located in Armstrong Hall, 254. My extension is 6510. Please do not call me at home unless you are having an emergency.